Events for the week of: Friday, March 07, 2014

Look Ahead to:

New and Important Federal Laws that Affect Small Businesses

What: The National Defense Authorization Act of 2014 includes some major changes in the rules for federal contracting with small businesses. Speaker: Michelle Kantor, an attorney who leads the federal government contracting practice group in the Chicago office of McDonald Hopkins LLC.

What: Learn more about the programs offered by the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, including the MBA, Master of Accountancy, and specialized Master of Science degrees in a variety of business disciplines.

Presidential Pearls from Longstanding NAWBO Leaders

What: In honor of Women's History Month, three National Assn. of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Chicago past presidents will reflect on how the women's business community has changed since the early days of NAWBO, sharing pearls of wisdom from their own business journeys.

How to Handle Finances & Write Off Your Job Search Expenses

What: Melissa Osuch, financial adviser, Strategic Advisors of Illinois, will teach you what you can do while in transition to improve your financial health, prioritize your financial goals and avoid scams.

The Fracking Process and its Effects

What: Robert Bauer, an engineering geologist at the Illinois State Geological Survey, will speak about oil/gas well construction, providing a brief history of horizontal wells and the hydraulic fracturing process, seismicity, results on contamination studies in the United States and where shale oil/gas resources may lie in Illinois.

Veterans Exploring Franchise Ownership

What: A workshop for veterans only. Learn what questions to ask, how to evaluate franchise opportunities and what funding options are available. Presented by: Laurie Pollock, a franchise consultant with FranChoice.

Who: Illinois Small Business Development Center International Trade Center

Attracting and Developing Talent in Data & Analytics

What: Join the Executives' Club Technology Committee and its panel of thought leaders for a discussion on the strategies and best practices used to attract and develop talent, and why each is critical to today's businesses.